Language competence, identity construction and discursive boundary-making: Distancing and alignment in domestic migrant worker narratives

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (262) ◽  
pp. 97-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans J. Ladegaard
Keyword(s):  
Identity Construction ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
English Language ◽  
Migrant Worker ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Boundary Making

AbstractMany people in developing countries are faced with a dilemma. If they stay at home, their children are kept in poverty with no prospects of a better future; if they become migrant workers, they will suffer long-term separation from their families. This article focuses on one of the weakest groups in the global economy: domestic migrant workers. It draws on a corpus of more than 400 narratives recorded at a church shelter in Hong Kong and among migrant worker returnees in rural Indonesia and the Philippines. In sharing sessions, migrant women share their experiences of working for abusive employers, and the article analyses how language is used to include and exclude. The women tell how their employers construct them as “incompetent” and “stupid” because they do not speak Chinese. However, faced by repression and marginalisation, the women use their superior English language skills to get back at their employers and momentarily gain the upper hand. Drawing on ideologies of language as the theoretical concept, the article provides a discourse analysis of selected excerpts focusing on language competence and identity construction.

Possible Citizens: Migration Enforcement as the Performance of Citizenship in the United Arab Emirates

2021 ◽  
pp. 019791832110547
Author(s):  
Noora Lori
Keyword(s):  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Citizenship Status ◽  
Guest Worker ◽  
Common Experience ◽  
Boundary Making ◽  
Timing Of Migration ◽  
Exclusionary Policies ◽  
National Boundaries

While most boundary-making studies examine native-born citizens’ opposition to immigration, this article explains why immigrants develop anti-immigrant attitudes. Under what conditions do previous generations of immigrants develop solidarity with newcomers? When might immigrants, instead, police national boundaries and oppose further immigration or naturalization? I argue that under uncertain citizenship status, long-term immigrants are unlikely to develop solidarity with newcomers, despite common experience with exclusionary citizenship policies. Drawing on interviews with naturalization applicants in the United Arab Emirates, this article analyses how policies that unevenly distribute rights and protections to non-citizens structure relationships between immigrant groups. Moving beyond citizen/non-citizen binaries, it calls attention to hierarchies among non-citizens, examining how long-term immigrants with partial and conditional rights police national boundaries to navigate exclusionary policies. When states restrict citizenship, making it a scarce good, immigrants may respond to uncertainty by competing and, thus, limiting access to that good for newcomers. When naturalization is arduous, applicants face pressures to continually perform citizenship to prove that they deserve inclusion. Naturalization applicants lacked citizenship, but they immigrated to the UAE before the establishment of its guest-worker program and claimed Emirati identity by differentiating themselves from “migrant workers.” I show how migration enforcement and boundary-policing factored into their perceptions and performances of what it meant to be a “good” Emirati citizen. Ethnic hierarchies and the timing of migration created distinctions between immigrants eligible for naturalization and those who were not. The mere possibility of inclusion in the citizenry may generate hierarchies between immigrants, precluding solidarity, and encouraging boundary-policing.

Lack of English proficiency is associated with the characteristics of work- related injury and recovery cost in the Victorian working population

Work ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 741-752
Author(s):  
Amanda K. Sampson ◽  
Behrooz Hassani-Mahmooei ◽  
Alex Collie
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Work Outcomes ◽  
Post Injury ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Work Related Injury ◽  
Interpreter Service

BACKGROUND: Migrant workers have been identified in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia as a particularly vulnerable working population with a higher risk of work-related injury and mortality compared to non-migrant workers. Lack of English language proficiency is associated with an increased risk of work-related injury. Whether lack of English proficiency influences post-injury recovery or return to work outcomes remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: Using administrative data from a population based workers’ compensation dataset in the state of Victoria, Australia, we aimed to examine work-related injury rates, worker characteristics and compensation outcomes in workers who were not proficient in English. We hypothesized that the use of an interpreter service would be associated with a poorer post-injury recovery profile and worse return to work outcomes. METHODS: WorkSafe Victoria accepted non-fatal claims for injuries and illnesses reported between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2012 by workers aged 15 to 74 (n = 402, 828 claims) were analysed. Consistent with prior research, we selected “use of an interpreter service” as the indicator of English language proficiency. The total and categorical compensable cost of recovery was used as recovery outcomes. RESULTS: Of these claims, 16,286 (4%) involved the use of an interpreter service (LOTE workers). Our analysis revealed that Victorian injured LOTE workers have significantly different demographic, occupational and injury characteristics compared to non-LOTE injured workers. Furthermore, we present novel evidence that LOTE status was associated with poorer long-term injury outcomes, observed as a greater healthcare utilisation and larger paid income benefits, after controlling for occupation, employment status and injury type compared to non-LOTE injured workers. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that English language proficiency is associated not only with the risk of work-related injury but also to the long-term recovery outcomes. We conclude that despite access to language interpreter services, injured LOTE workers experience English language proficiency dependent, and injury severity independent, recovery barriers which need to be overcome to improve long term recovery outcomes.

scholarly journals PENEGAKAN HUKUM TINDAK PIDANA PERDAGANGAN ORANG PEKERJA MIGRAN INDONESIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-270
Author(s):  
Dewi Asri Puanandini
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Migrant Worker ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
Medical Checkup ◽  
Service Companies ◽  
Labor Service

This study aims to examine the problems of law enforcement against human trafficking against Indonesian migrant workers. This research was conducted on legal issues from the normative side based on the rule of law in legislation and norms. This study uses a normative juridical approach with primary and secondary legal materials. The results of this study indicate that the law enforcement process against the criminal act of trafficking of Indonesian migrant workers, there are parties that are organized, starting from the Indonesian Migrant Worker Placement Company for Civil Employment, Health (medical checkup), Immigration (making passports), and at the airport. P3MI uses unscrupulous immig­ra­tion officers who can pass prospective Indonesian migrant workers with a number of rewards. Law enforcement carried out by the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency by postponing services, revoking company permits, written warnings, temporarily suspending part or all of business activities, canceling the departure of prospective migrant workers, and or returning from abroad at their own expense. The long-term effort is to closely monitor Indonesian labor service companies.

Diagnostic memory assessment in Italian-born Australians

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 1133-1143
Author(s):  
Sara Fratti ◽  
Stephen C. Bowden ◽  
Olimpia Pino
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Cognitive Ability ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
English Language ◽  
Word Reading ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Increased Risk

ABSTRACTBackground:In many English-speaking countries neuropsychological assessment of non-English speakers is often performed in English or through an interpreter. Relying on interpreters often involves unstandardized and ad hoc translations of tests which may limit valid assessment.Methods:In a sample of 75 Italian-born elderly Australians from the general community (48 women and 27 men, aged 56–90 years) we administered standardized and normed psychological tests in both English (WMS-III, WAIS-III, BNT, Schonell Graded Word Reading Test) and Italian (Milan Overall Dementia Assessment, MODA). We examined the hypothesis that long-term retrieval ability assessed in English is primarily influenced by cognitive abilities assessed in Italian and by English language competence.Results:Regression analysis showed that the strongest predictor of long-term retrieval in English was long-term retrieval in Italian (R2= 0.229, F(72) = 29.12, p<0.01). After inclusion of an estimate of general cognitive ability in Italian, English language competence failed to add significantly to variance explained in memory tested in English (p > 0.05).Conclusions:Results of the present study support the view that long-term retrieval memory is not significantly affected by second language proficiency after control of cognitive ability assessed in Italian. As a consequence, if an Italian-born elder Australian with English as a second language scores poorly on a diagnostic memory test, this result may be due to cognitive impairment rather than language issues. If, instead, we attribute poor performance to language competence, an increased risk of false negative diagnosis may arise.

scholarly journals TENAGA KERJA INDONESIA DALAM KONTEKS MASYARAKAT TAIWAN YANG MENUA

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Rita Pawestri Setyaningsih
Keyword(s):  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Southeast Asian ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Ageing Society

Taiwan’s ageing population has boosted the high rate of demand for caretakers. Many caretakers came from Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. Since 2005 Indonesian Workers have dominated the market share of the welfare sector. However in 2015 the Indonesian government launched a zero-maid policy, in order to terminate the sending of unskilled workers. The other goal is to provide better protection for migrant workers abroad. Taiwan becomes one of the targets of this policy. In fact, this policy will certainly create great impact on the supply of labor in the welfare sector in the future. Moreover, Taiwan has launched a national ten-year long-term care. So, how the Taiwanese government respond to this policy? Will the Indonesian workers’ shalt position be replaced by other Southeast Asian workers? This article aims firstly, to understand the position of migrant workers among other foreign workers working in the welfare sector in Taiwan. Secondly, to understand the Taiwan government’s efforts in response to the Indonesian government’s plan. This study uses literature study and interviews. This issue will be analyzed using economic and social approaches. The data used are from the range of 1992 to 2015.Keywords: ageing society, Taiwan, Indonesian workers, employment policyAbstrakPenuaan penduduk Taiwan mendorong tingginya laju permintaan akan tenaga perawat. Selama ini tenaga perawat didatangkan dari negara-negara Asia Tenggara, seperti Filipina, Vietnam, Thailand, dan Indonesia. Sejak 2005 Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (TKI) mendominasi pangsa pasar sektor kesejahteraan sosial. Namun di tahun 2015, Pemerintah Indonesia mencanangkan zero-maid policy, yaitu penghentian pengiriman TKI tidak terampil. Tujuannya tidak lain adalah untuk memberikan perlindungan yang lebih besar bagi TKI di luar negeri. Taiwan menjadi salah satu target dari kebijakan ini. Kebijakan ini tentu akan berdampak pada ketersediaan tenaga kerja pada sektor kesejahteraan sosial di Taiwan di masa depan. Apalagi Taiwan sudah mencanangkan national ten-year long-term care. Lantas, bagaimana respon pemerintah Taiwan terhadap kebijakan ini? akanlah TKI digantikan posisinya oleh TKA lainnya? Artikel ini bertujuan untuk pertama, memahami posisi TKI di antara tenaga kerja asing lainnya yang bekerja di sektor informal di Taiwan. Kedua, memahami upaya pemerintah Taiwan dalam menanggapi rencana pemerintah Indonesia tersebut. Studi ini menggunakan studi literatur dan wawancara. Persoalan ini akan dianalisis dengan menggunakan pendekatan ekonomi dan sosial. Data yang digunakan adalah data sekunder dari tahun 1992 hingga 2015.Kata kunci: ageing society, Taiwan, TKI, kebijakan ketenagakerjaan

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against diphtheria antitoxin among migrant workers in Singapore, 2016–2019

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Wei Ang ◽  
Qi Gao ◽  
Lin Cui ◽  
Aysha Farwin ◽  
Matthias Paul Han Sim Toh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Migrant Worker ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Booster Vaccination ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Vaccine Preventable Diseases ◽  
Local Case ◽  
Diphtheria Antitoxin

Abstract Background Since the last local case of diphtheria in 1992, there had not been any case in Singapore until an autochthonous case was reported in 2017. This fatal diphtheria case of a migrant worker raised concerns about the potential re-emergence of locally transmitted toxigenic diphtheria in Singapore. We conducted a seroprevalence study to assess the immunity levels to diphtheria among migrant workers in Singapore. Methods Residual sera from migrant workers who hailed from Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines were tested for anti-diphtheria toxoid immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies. These migrant workers previously participated in a survey between 2016 and 2019 and had provided blood samples as part of the survey procedure. Results A total of 2176 migrant workers were included in the study. Their overall mean age was 27.1 years (standard deviation 5.0), range was 20–43 years. The proportion having at least basic protection against diphtheria (antitoxin titres ≥ 0.01 IU/ml) ranged from 77.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 72.8 – 82.3%) among migrant workers from Bangladesh to 96.7% (95% CI 92.5 – 98.6%) in those hailing from Malaysia. The proportion showing full protection (antitoxin titres ≥ 0.10 IU/ml) ranged from 10.1% (95% CI 6.5 – 15.4%) in Chinese workers to 23.0% (95% CI 17.1 – 30.3%) in Malaysian workers. There were no significant differences in the proportion with at least basic protection across birth cohorts, except for those from Bangladesh where the seroprevalence was significantly lower in younger migrant workers born after 1989. Conclusions The proportions having at least basic protection against diphtheria in migrant workers from five out of seven Asian countries (India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines) were higher than 85%, the threshold for diphtheria herd immunity. Seroprevalence surveys should be conducted periodically to assess the level of immunity against diphtheria and other vaccine preventable diseases in migrant worker population, so that appropriate interventions such as booster vaccination can be implemented proactively to prevent sporadic outbreaks.

Language, employment, and settlement: Temporary meat workers in Australia

Multilingua ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Piller ◽  
Loy Lising
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
English Language ◽  
Migration Policy ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Meat Processing ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Media Reports ◽  
And Migration

AbstractAustralia is one of the world’s largest beef exporters. However, meat processing jobs are widely considered undesirable and are increasingly filled with employer-sponsored migrant workers on temporary long-stay visas. Against this background, our paper explores the role of language in the employment and migration trajectories of a group of meat processing workers from the Philippines in a small town in rural Australia. Methodologically, we employ a case study approach combining macro-data from language and migration policy documents and media reports with micro-data from ethnographic fieldwork. We explore the role of language in recruitment, in the workplace, during leisure time, and in gaining permanent residence in Australia. To begin with, language is not a recruitment criterion as the primary visa holder is hired on the basis of a so-called ‘trade test,’ i.e., observed at butchering work in the Philippines by an Australian recruiter. Spouses of the primary visa holder are also issued a temporary visa and are offered unskilled employment in the same plant. Once in Australia, the participants had few opportunities to practice English at work or in the community. In this way, temporary migrants came to Australia with limited English and had limited opportunities to improve their English in the country. However, visa extensions or the conversion of their temporary visa to a permanent residency visa is contingent upon their English language proficiency and only granted if they achieve a score of Level 5 or above on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Because of their limited education and limited practice opportunities, this proficiency level was out of the reach of most of our participants. We conclude by arguing that – in a context where

scholarly journals Jaringan Advokasi Transnasional (GAATW) dalam Penyelesaian Isu Migrasi Pekerja Perempuan dan Perdagangan Manusia di Asia Tenggara

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Monica Vira Ajeng Kristanti
Keyword(s):  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Migrant Worker ◽  
Recipient Country ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Transnational Advocacy ◽  
Global Alliance ◽  
Advocacy Network ◽  
The Government

Southeast Asia is one of the regions that has a fairly high rate of labor migration, both as a contributor and a recipient country. However, this is not equated with strict regulations and laws. Violations of the rights of migrant workers are common in several countries. Unfortunately, ASEAN as a regional regional organization has not been able to provide targeted advocacy. The Transnational Advocacy Network (TAN) is here to provide recommendations and advocacy to migrant workers across countries. In this article, the transnational advocacy network that will be studied further is the Global Alliance Against Trafficking in Women (GAATW) which has been actively advocating and providing policy recommendations to five countries in Southeast Asia, namely Indonesia, Singapore, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand. The research method used in this study is a qualitative method using secondary data. In this study, we can see how GAATW cooperates with several migrant worker unions in these countries, either by conducting research, advocating for victims, or by publishing publications aimed at the public and the government.

scholarly journals The Success of Handling COVID-19 in Singapore: The Case of the Migrant Worker Cluster and the Economic Recession

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 241
Author(s):  
Citra Hennida
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Migrant Worker ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Disaster Mitigation ◽  
System A ◽  
Transportation Service ◽  
The Government ◽  
Permanent Residents

Artikel ini berfokus pada strategi penanganan COVID-19 di Singapura. Singapura adalah satu negara yang dianggap sukses dalam penanganan COVID-19. Dengan menggunakan analisis kapasitas kebijakan publik dan pegumpulan data selama Januari–Juli 2020, artikel ini menemukan bahwa ada tiga hal yang mendorong keberhasilan Singapura, yaitu: sistem mitigasi bencana kesehatan yang responsif dan efisien; legitimasi pemerintah yang tinggi; dan modal sosial di masyarakat yang pernah mengalami pandemi SARS. Artikel ini juga menemukan bahwa sistem mitigasi bencana kesehatan hanya berlaku maksimal untuk warga lokal, sedangkan warga asing khususnya para pekerja migran kerah biru tidak banyak dijangkau. Klaster asrama pekerja migran adalah klaster terbanyak ditemukan kasus COVID-19 dan lebih dari 90 persen kasus nasional berasal dari kelompok ini. Temuan lainnya adalah jatuhnya Singapura pada resesi dengan pertumbuhan minus 13,2 persen di kuartal kedua tahun 2020. Kebijakan stimulus fiskal dan moneter yang diberikan tidak mampu mendorong pertumbuhan karena ekonomi Singapura yang dependen terhadap ekonomi global; dominasi sektor transportasi, jasa, dan pariwisata Singapura adalah sektor-sektor yang paling terdampak akibat pandemi. Kata-kata kunci: COVID-19, mitigasi bencana kesehatan, pekerja migran, resesi, SingapuraThis article focuses on Singapore's strategies for dealing with COVID-19. Singapore is considered as a successful country in handling COVID-19. Using an analysis of public policy capacity and data collection within January-July 2020, this article finds three driving factors for Singapore's success: a responsive and efficient health disaster mitigation system; a high legitimacy in the government; and society's experience with the SARS epidemic. This article also finds that the health disaster mitigation system only applies optimally to permanent residents. While foreigners, mostly blue-collar migrant workers, are not widely reached. The migrant worker dormitory cluster is a cluster with the highest number of COVID-19 cases detected, which makes up to 90 percent of national cases. Other findings include Singapore's inevitable recession, with a minus 13.2 percent of the economic growth in the second quarter of 2020. The fiscal and monetary stimulus policies provided were not able to boost the economic growth because Singapore's economy depended on the global economy; the dominance of the transportation, service, and tourism sectors Singapore were most affected by the pandemic.Keywords: COVID-19, health disaster mitigation, migrant workers, recession, Singapore 

scholarly journals Theorizing sites and strategies of differential inclusion: Unlawful migrant workers in Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 194-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Segrave
Keyword(s):  
Differential Inclusion ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Migrant Worker ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Empirical Examination ◽  
Exclusionary Practices ◽  
Law And Policy ◽  
Australian Context

In this article, I extend the theoretical concept of differential inclusion, as developed in 2013 by Mezzadra and Neilson, via an empirical examination of the experiences of unlawful migrant workers in Australia and those who employ them. I explore the dynamic and shifting positionality of the unlawful migrant by examining several sites and strategies used to achieve differential inclusion in the Australian context, including migrant worker networks, the workplace and the broader community. My analysis reveals that the nation-state’s effort to exclude and demarcate non-belonging via law and policy is destabilized by the inclusionary bordering practices of both citizens and unlawful non-citizens. My findings point to the importance of criminologists continuing to look beyond the physical border to make sense of the configuration and reconfiguration of belonging. The conceptualization of differential inclusion provided here recognizes that workers and employers utilize diverse strategies and sites which can subvert state exclusionary practices.

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